tracked leader, hit 2nd and clear with leader, led 2 out, hit next, ridden and challenged flat, asserted near finish
jumped left, in rear, slowly and behind 3rd
chased clear leading pair but clear of rest, kept on but never any chance
led, 4 lengths clear of winner 2nd and well clear of 3rd, headed 2 out, rallied flat until no extra near finish
in rear, never on terms
SIDNEY MELBOURNE should be another for the Nicholls' team as he won a maiden hurdle by 11 lengths over course and distance last month. Previously hard to win with, blinkers have clearly sharpened up his ideas and are in place again today. Qoubilai did show promise over fences last season and that's where his future lies. This will be his first run over hurdles since 2010. Jack By The Hedge didn't run badly in an Ascot bumper in February and may prove the pick of the remainder.
Sidney Melbourne (USA) 4-6fav (11-0) Made all, soon 10 lengthes clear, not fluent 4th, blundered last, easily, won at Wincanton 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr beating Backhomeinderry (11-0) by 11l, 9 ran.
Cardinal Richelieu (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Led, ridden and headed over 4f out, soon weakened, 10th of 12, well behind Sankyouplease (10-12) at Chepstow 2m Conditional Nat Hunt Flat Maiden (4-6yo) (6) gs in Feb.
Panache 33-1 (10-11) Chasing leaders when badly hampered and unseated rider 4th, in a race won by Rayvin Black (10-9) at Ludlow 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr, 14 ran.
Qoubilai (FR) 5-1 (11-9) Led, ridden and headed before 2 out, weakened and lost 3rd place towards finish, 4th of 7, 7l behind Memorabilia (10-13) at Doncaster 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Feb.
Sid 100-1 (10-0) Dwelt, in rear, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 5, 14l behind Emperor Julius (8-11) at Kempton 7f mdn auc stks (6) pol in Feb (flat).
Bedibyes 33-1 (8-7) Slowly away, behind, headway over 1f out, stayed on well, never nearer, 8th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Chella Thriller (9-7) at Kempton 1m 2f hcp 0-60 (6) pol in Apr (flat).
Actodos (IRE) 66-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, weakened 4 out, behind when pulled up 2 out, in a race won by Southfield Theatre (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Apr, 7 ran.
Hard House 100-1 (10-12) Always behind, weakened 4th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Billy Dutton (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) hvy in Dec, 12 ran.
Jack By The Hedge 33-1 (10-7) Tracked leader, led 3f out, soon headed, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 8, 14l behind Red Sherlock (10-11) at Ascot 2m NH flat (4) sft in Feb.
